Oct. 7, 1962 - Johnny Pesky (pictured), former Boston Red Sox infielder, was named manager of the Red Sox yesterday. Manager Mike Higgins was moved up to executive vice president. Pesky, 42, has managed the Red Sox’ Seattle club in the Pacific Coast League the last two years. He served previously as manager in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system. “It was like a bolt out of the blue,” Pesky said of his appointment. “This is something I have looked forward to, something any guy in baseball would look forward to.” Pesky broke into the majors as a shortstop with the Red Sox in 1942 and remained with them until 1952, when he was traded to the Tigers. He completed his playing career with the Senators in 1954, finishing with a lifetime batting average of .307.
